This is the life of Pete.
My life races and this is my account of it all.

Monday, May 16, 2005

Email from Clancy Brown, aka Brother Justin.

Dear Beth:

(I'd post this but I don't want my E-mail address out there so pleasepass any portion of this note along to the fans on the Yahoo groupwhenever you see fit)

You've hit the nail on the head yet again! There is absolutely nothingto read into the recent press releases about Dan and Tracy developing ashow for Showtime except that SOMEONE (read: Showtime or some crankyentertainment beat writer) wanted to try to knock some of the luster offof HBO's golden tower.

There are many reasons not to worry but the first and foremost is -HOWARD KLEIN!

Howard executive produces at least three shows for different networksthat I know of and is currently paired with CARNIVALE writer WilliamSchmidt to develop a fourth for none other than HBO! Now I'll grant youHoward is not the "Creator" of CARNIVALE or any of the other shows heExec Produces nor does he write or direct but he is deeply involved inall of them AND findstime to operate a top talent management company named 3 Arts (perhapsyou've seen the logo in the end credits of OUR show). Certainly a mind ascreative and facile as Dan's could manage to run an established show likeCARNIVALE as well as develop a few more ideas.

The second reason (almost as obvious as the first) is - HOWARD KLEINAGAIN!

Tracy Torme is one of Howard's clients (and an old friend). Howard, andby logical extension HBO, surely knew of Dan and Tracy shopping theirideas around (although I'll bet HBO was surprised they landed atShowtime!). Howard is the guy with the intimate relationships andcommunication with HBO. To think this was somehow unexpected is absurd.If HBO wanted to wrap either Dan or Tracy up exclusively, they couldhave; but that's not the way it happens in TV. It's WAY too expensive topay someone NOT to play in another sandbox. Plus DK is very sought afterthese days. By the time HBO makes up their mind about a third season, Iwould expect DK to have at least three more development deals in placeall over town!

The question then becomes will we have a third season and; if so, willHBO seek to sign Dan up again? My feeling is, "Yes and Yes!"

To the first part of the question - CARNIVALE is not finished. We knowthat the final event in our story doesn't occur for another 10 or 11years and we don't flash forward that far during the finale of season 2.HBO wouldn't allow the story to end abruptly, it's not their style andnot their reputation. Caroline Strauss and Miranda Heller are smartcookies who have made their names by taking chances on stories andsubjects and styles that have re-defined series television. And ChrisAlbrecht, as the main architect of ALL of it, is not suddenly going tostart behaving like the middle managers that run some of the competition.HIS vision of HBO as a place where creators are afforded the freedom topursue THEIR vision is what keeps HBO on top. Because of that, HBO enjoysthe preeminent place in Hollywood's creative community. It is the FIRSTplace people approach with their BEST ideas.

To the second part of the question - read the last half of the aboveparagraph. Dan loves CARNIVALE and HBO first. He is not discontent nor ishe a malcontent. I've asked him directly if he would sign on again. Hewould in a heart-beat. But these are delicate issues in the beginning;fraught with ego, strategy, and, ... well... ego. Who says what whentakes up a lot of brain-time in high places. Protocols real and imaginaryare expected to be ignored or honored depending on the phase of the moonand violations are both admired and despised. Blah blah blah blah....

The truth is it is DK's story. He's the "creator" that is so esteemed bythe HBO model. There is no reason not to expect he will be back. Howardcan do a lot of useful things, but even Howard knows he's not astory-teller. Howard knows that without Dan, this story will fall flat.There are too manydisparate strands that support the grand design. There is too muchspecialized detail that focus the audience in unexpected and compellingways. The characters, time, and setting are too specific to be entrustedto a second-team back-up. I know it, the writers know it, Howard knowsit, Dan knows it, and HBO knows it. If there is any reason not to allowDan to finish telling his tale, I am unaware of it. I must conclude hewill not be allowed to be "the one that got away." (Especially toShowtime)

I completely understand and empathize with some of the panic posters.I've suffered through baffling decisions by suits. I don't trust 'emeither. Their nervousness about the future of CARNIVALE is informed andgrounded by experience. All I ask is that you give HBO the benefit of thedoubt. Letyour skepticism be informed and eased by Albrecht's track record. Sincehe took the reigns at HBO, the rules have changed. Why would CARNIVALEsuddenly inspire the iconoclasts at HBO to behave like sheep. No, theyare a different breed. And they are tenacious. They don't flail and whineand look for escape hatches. They look you in the eye and green lightshows likeDEADWOOD, BIG LOVE, UNSCRIPTED, K STREET, SOPRANOS, SIX FEET UNDER, andon and on.... These folks are horses of a different color. NOT birds of afeather.

Now to the one sad truth, and the only part of your post that is lessthan 100% true. Ben and Justin (Nick and I) are not essential goingforward. Never were. Actors (and sadly the characters they play) hardlyever are. There are exceptions: Tony Soprano, Carrie Bradshaw, SpongeBobSquarepants, etc. But ours is an ensemble that serves the story and storyis the star. Ben & Justin could continue but they just as well could not.There are plenty of characters to carry on the continuity of theme andnarrative (most obviously - Samson). I wish this weren't true, but I haveto be honest...I would still be enthralled with this show even if Iweren't on it - perhaps moreso. Sorry but that's the reality.

Now having said that, there is only one person I would trust to make sucha transition correctly - Dan Knauf. Any other way would smell too muchlike a "purge". So the only real indispensable "star" of this show is the"creator" - Mr. Daniel Knauf. As Milch is to DEADWOOD and Ball is to SIXFEET UNDER so too is Knauf to CARNIVALE.

So do not despair, fellow Carnys and Knauf-tic faithful. Let thepriesthood at HBO do what they will in their own time. They are wise andbold and committed. They will make the right choice. It is self-evident.I am sure that we will continue to tell the story and "...show youthings. Wonderful,terrible things...." (those 5 emmys right out of the gate didn't hurteither. SOPRANOS didn't win that many their first season!)